Ever since the government announced the provision of free visa and free ticket to all aspirant migrant workers for seven destination countries, a new row has sparked over the decision.

The foreign employment sector is undergoing a blame game. which has ultimately victimized the aspirant migrant workers.

The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) on June 12 announced free visa and free ticket to all aspirant migrant workers for Malaysia and six Gulf countries- Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Kuwait.

Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), an umbrella organization, has been protesting this decision since the very day of it was announced. Despite frictions, MoLE implemented brought the decision into effect July 6.

Minister of State at the MoLE, said that such a decision was extremely important for the welfare of Nepali migrant workers while claiming that unscrupulous recruiting agencies have been charging hefty amount to the aspirant migrant workers.

"In most cases migrant workers are forced to pay more amount than the ceiling prescribed by the government," Gurung said. "Migrant workers can pursue jobs in seven destination countries by paying only up to Rs. 17, 000 as service charge for recruiting agency, medical test fee, and insurance and welfare deposit" he added.

The implementation of the decision automatically scraps the earlier ceiling of Rs. 80,000 for Malaysia and Rs. 70,000 for Gulf countries set by the government. Nepal has opened 110 countries for foreign employment but has inked labor pact with only five countries- South Korea, Qatar, UAE, Japan and Bahrain.
 
Under the free visa, freeticket system, an outbound migrant worker has to pay only up to Rs. 17,000 including the amount to be paid to the Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB). Migrant experts have lauded the government's decision terming it to be in the favor of all migrant workers and suggesting to expand such provision for destination countries.

They said that the government should rigorously publicize its zero-cost policy on foreign employment to prevent innocent aspirant Nepali migrant workers from being 'duped' by the unscrupulous recruiting agencies.

"The demand for Nepali workers will not decrease because of the new decision, if demand and supply is carried out within the bilateral agreement," said Dr. Meena Poudel, migration expert and sociologist. "The government should ink bilateral with all the destination countries and make all destination countries free of cost for aspirant migrants."

She even shared that the on-going protest of the NAFEA shows that they were well prepared for protesting the government's decision. "The government should have prepared more before coming up with such a decision in order to avoid any protest from the recruiting firms."

NAFEA to launch indefinite protest

The NAFEA, which has been organizing a series of protest program, have announced indefinite protest programs against the zero-cost recruitment policy of the government.

Newly-elected president of the NAFEA, Bimal Dhakal told Republica that the government should roll back its decision if it wants the recruiting agencies to resume their services.

"The free visa and free ticket provision of the government will shut down our business," said Dhakal. "We will not send migrant workers until the government rolls back its decision. Government should have thought about the migrant workers and held intense discussion before taking the zero-cost recruitment decision for seven countries."

While maintaining that they are not against the zero-cost recruitment policy and are in favor of migrant workers, he said that business of 758 manpower agencies, under the NAFEA, is more important issue for the organization, than sending migrant workers for employment.

The recruiting agencies have been demanding to scrap the zero cost system at the earliest and form a high-level committee to study about the feasibility of such a system in the country. They have even asked the government to make South Korea, where Nepalis are sent under the EPS, free of cost first if it wants to ensure that all aspirant migrant workers fly destination countries without any cost.

Amid these tensions, the MoLE has stood by its stance and has even warned to scrap the license of recruiting agencies that fail to abide by its decision.

At least 1500 to 1,700 Nepali take work permit for foreign employment in an average in a day. According to the record of the DoFE, more than 3,50,000 Nepalis have taken work permit till date.

Published on: 9 July 2015 | Republica